16 March 2009
Dear Reaching Critical Will friends and advisors:
On 5 March, the current president of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) read out the International Women’s Day Statement to the CD on behalf of the coalition of women’s organizations that prepared the statement after their seminar on 4 March. This year’s seminar focused on “Getting To Peace in the Middle East—Changing Threat Perceptions.” The statement emphasized that three parallel tracks are necessary for the consolidation of peace in the area: the political track, including the Arab Peace Initiative; the disarmament track, including the 1995 nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty Review Conference Resolution; and a human security track, “along which the governments of the region demonstrate their ability to cope with their internal problems and satisfy the needs and hopes of their peoples.”
As with all initiatives for peace, justice, and disarmament, the statement notes, “It will be impossible to maintain and implement this third track—towards shared human security—without the full and active engagement of civil society, and particularly women.” Civil society participation is essential for progress. Reaching Critical Will encourages everyone to consider what they can do to meet the increasing challenges engaging our world, to not be overwhelmed by apathy or hopelessness, and to act for change in every way possible.
Recent technical difficulties: Speaking of change, Reaching Critical Will's website has experienced some technical difficulties over the past week due to an impromptu server migration. All relevant information for the NPT is now back in order. However, some broken links remain throughout the site, particularly in our collection of Conference on Disarmament statements, and we ask for your patience as we fix these.
In peace,
Ray Acheson, Project Director
1) International Women’s Day and the global financial crisis
Reuters invited Sam Cook, Director of the PeaceWomen project of WILPF, to write a blog post in honour of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2009. Sam tied the problems of excessive military spending to those of reaching gender equality and the other Millennium Development Goals.http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate-uk/2009/03/07/international-womens-day-and-the-global-financial-crisis/
With the global financial crisis seemingly in every headline and a looming economic meltdown foremost on everyone’s minds, the observance of International Women’s Day on March 8 may not seem of immediate relevance. But it is.
Clara Zetkin, who is credited with first putting forward the idea of an international women’s day in 1910, would likely have a lot to say about where we are today. She and other committed socialists of the women’s and the peace movements in the U.S. and Europe whose work inspired this Women’s Day would probably not be entirely surprised at what the dominant economic and political power ideologies of the last century have delivered.
Of course International Women’s Day has grown beyond its working class roots in the early 1900’s. Alongside the women’s movement, we see now that global corporations and governments actively claim support of the day and its celebrations. The official website of International Women’s Day claims this fact as a positive achievement. But, as someone who considers herself part of the peace and women’s movements, this causes me no small measure of discomfort and adds to my mixed emotions about the day.
It is not that I don’t appreciate the power and significance of an international day of observance of work for women’s empowerment and gender equality. It is not that I think we have no need of attention to these issues. It is not that I feel that all the important achievements are the ones behind us - as the bumper sticker pinned above my desk reads, “I’ll be a post-feminist in post-patriarchy.” No, I believe that International Women’s Day is an important reminder of the work that still needs to be done and it is certainly a powerful moment of solidarity across time and space.
It is fortifying to work with a sense of common cause with women from places as diverse as the cities of Latin America, the hamlets of Europe, the suburbs of North America and the villages and sprawling urban centres across Africa. It is inspiring to know that this work on a wide range of issues - from equal pay for equal work; to access to reproductive health services; and ending violence against women - is building on the work of generations of women before us. These are all reasons that make International Women’s Day a day worth celebrating. But they are also the reasons that I want to reclaim the day. Reclaim it back from the hands of empty ritual and rhetoric and from those that treat it like another public relations opportunity.
I’m not saying that governments and corporations don’t do “good things” or that they don’t invest in gender equality and women’s empowerment. But, when one looks at the bigger picture - including that revealed by this global financial crisis - those efforts seem less laudable. As with so many things, it is hard to get the true picture and see where priorities lie until you do the comparisons and look at the numbers.
As tax payers in the U.S. are aghast at upwards of $700 billion dollars going to “bail out” the financial system, little is said of the fact that this figure is also the approximate annual military budget of the U.S. Global military spending currently exceeds $1,204 billion dollars annually at 2006 prices. The combined budgets of the United Nations entities working on women’s issues amounts to approximately 0.005 percent of that.
The World Bank estimates the cost of interventions to promote gender equality under Millennium Development Goal 3 (universal access to education) to be $7-$13 per capita. The world’s military expenditure in 2006? $184 per capita. This is the financial crisis. That investing in weapons and war and creating human insecurity is prioritized over investing in peace, development and gender equality. This is what we should be questioning and working to change as we stand together on International Women’s Day. And if the governments and corporations of the world really want to show their support for this day, then ending militarism would be a good place to start.
2) Open letter on Czech missile "defence" radar
The Czech Chamber of Deputies is likely to vote this week on whether to accept the US military radar base that was originally proposed by the Bush administration. The radar, along with Interceptor missiles in Poland, would create a European "missile defence" system. Two thirds of Czechs have consistently opposed the radar.
The Campaign for Peace and Democracy has drafted the following open letter to the Czech Chamber of Deputies:
It is our understanding that after much debate in your country, the Czech Chamber of Deputies will vote very soon on the proposed agreement to accept the U.S. military radar. We are writing to let you know that we deeply believe that the radar is not in the real interests of people in either the United States or the Czech Republic. We hope you will vote to reject it.
Millions of Americans, including ourselves, are eager for a new peaceful U.S. foreign policy that advances democracy and demilitarization around the world, rather than an escalation of the arms race. Moreover, the extremely expensive missile defense program is, like so much of our country's military budget, a vast waste of resources. We would much prefer to spend our nation's wealth on education, housing, healthcare and other human needs, both domestically and internationally.
We are inspired by the fact that more than two thirds of the Czech people have repeatedly expressed their opposition to the radar. We join with them in calling on President Obama to pull back from plans to install Interceptor missiles in Poland and a companion radar station in the Czech Republic.
An end to this dangerous "missile defense" program could form the basis for a very positive and constructive relationship between the people of our two countries, and could serve as an important first step in a broader process of global disarmament.
To sign the letter, please go http://www.cpdweb.org/statements/1012/stmt.shtml.
3) Costa Rica campaign to ban depleted uranium weapons
From the International Campaign to Ban Uranium Weapons
On 4 March 2009, the President of the Latin American Parliament’s Human Rights Commission and member of Costa Rica’s legislative assembly Alexander Mora Mora released a draft for a comprehensive ban on uranium weapons in Costa Rica.
Mora Mora, a member of the Partido Liberacion Nacional and keen advocate for peace and non-violence, estimates that the bill could become law in under a year and hopes that it will attract cross party support. Parliamentarians have been inspired by Belgium’s decision to ban uranium weapons and armour in a unanimous vote passed in 2007. Belgium’s ban will come into force to become law this June.
“Every domestic campaign needs heroes and Alexander Mora Mora has stepped into this role in Costa Rica,” said an ICBUW spokesperson. “Although our member organisations here have been working closely with the legislature’s members for some time, Mora Mora is the driving force behind this text and we hope that its impact will spread far beyond the boundaries of Costa Rica.”
It is anticipated that the Costa Rican ban text will be written into a 1995 law controlling explosive weapons. If it successfully negotiates the state’s unicameral legislature, the text will ban the use, sale, transit, production and distribution of uranium weapons in Costa Rica and its exclusive economic zone.
4) Russia’s Foreign Minister addressed the Conference on Disarmament
From Reaching Critical Will's CD Report
On Saturday, 7 March, a plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) convened to accommodate Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s schedule. Minister Lavrov commented on the relationship between the financial crisis and disarmament; relations with the United States and next steps for bilateral reductions; measures for “strategic stability”; the proposed anti-missile system in Eastern Europe; and preventing an arms race in outer space.
Economic demilitarization
Minister Lavrov argued that the current financial and economic crises “constrict the resource base for disarmament and conversion programs,” though he also acknowledged “that under globalization the crisis cannot be overcome through military preparations or war as happened in 1930-s. Regretfully, the Cold War has ‘institutionalized’ militarization in the field of international relations.”
Many academics and activists argue that the financial crisis not only demonstrates beyond a doubt the need for conversion, disarmament, and demilitarization, but also provides an opportunity for such progress. At a recent conference in Washington, DC, “Security Without Empire,” Bruce Gagnon of the
Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space argued that the conversion of military industries is essential to reducing military expenditures, and that popular support for conversion is essential for government action. US Congressman Barney Frank, in calling for a 25% reduction of the US military budget, has argued that the US government has “for too long indulged the implicit notion that military spending is somehow irrelevant to reducing the deficit and have resisted applying to military spending the standards of efficiency that are applied to other programs. If we do not reduce the military budget, either we accustom ourselves to unending and increasing budget deficits, or we do severe harm to our ability to improve the quality of our lives through sensible public policy.”
US-Russian nuclear reductions
Minister Lavrov recognized Russia’s “special responsibility” as a nuclear weapon state and permanent member of the UN Security Council to effectively work toward nuclear disarmament. He welcomed the “resetting” of US-Russian relations as discussed with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and emphasized the importance of a follow-on to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). He also read a statement by Russian President Medvedev, calling for a legally-binding instrument that limits warheads, strategic delivery vehicles, and the legality of deploying such arms outside of national territories.
Measures for “strategic stability”
Arguing that the elimination of nuclear weapons “can only be achieved through strengthened strategic stability and strict adherence to the principle of equal security of all,” Minister Lavrov urged the following steps:
Advancement of nuclear disarmament by all nuclear weapon states, “with their ‘gradual’ engagement in efforts already being undertaken by Russia and U.S.”;
Preventing of the weaponization of outer space;
Preventing of operational deployment of strategic offensive weapons equipped with conventional warheads (building “compensatory potential”);
Ensuring states do not possess a “nuclear upload potential”;
Preventing attempt to use NPT membership to implement military nuclear programs; and
Ensuring verifiable cessation of conventional capabilities “coupled with efforts to resolve other international issues, including settlement of regional conflicts.”
Minister Lavrov also called for strengthening of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at the next Review Conference in 2010; entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and ratification of the International Atomic Energy Agency Additional Protocol by all countries . He welcomed the entry into force of the Central Asian nuclear weapon free zone and urged for the development of such a zone in the Middle East. He also called for development of multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle, urging, “joint work should be carried out to develop global nuclear energy infrastructure through the establishment of multilateral centers for the provision of nuclear fuel cycle services” and citing the establishment of the International Uranium Enrichment Center in partnership with Kazakhstan. Noting that the European Union has now made a similar call, Minister Lavrov reiterated the importance of developing an international agreement on the elimination of intermediate- and short-range ballistic missiles. He also said the Russian delegation to the CD is prepared to start negotiations on a fissile materials cut-off treaty.
Anti-missile system in Europe
Minister Lavrov further argued that unilateral anti-ballistic missile systems undermine efforts toward nuclear disarmament by eroding strategic stability and global parity. He proposed a “constructive alternative to unilateral plans in this crucial area”—a “package proposal” to “unite efforts of all States interested in counteracting potential missile threats.”
Despite arguing that the proposed US anti-missile system in Europe is based on unfounded fears of missile attacks by Iran—noting that Iran does not possess intercontinental ballistic missiles or nuclear weapons—the Russian government has for several years been inviting NATO and the United States to cooperate with it on an anti-missile system to “protect” both Europe and Russia. In March 2007, Russia’s ambassador to NATO urged, “Since Iranian missiles and the nuclear weapons of the ‘rogue states’ rank among our common threats, let us gather together and assess them, and let us build an antimissile system jointly.” While this suggestion was largely ignored by the former US administration, on Friday, 6 March 2009, US Secretary of State Clinton indicated that there may be an “opportunity” for Russia and the United States to “cooperate on missile defense.”
Weaponization of outer space
Minister Lavrov argued that preventing an arms race in outer space is in everyone’s interest, noting that it will help make “the strategic situation predictable and preserving integrity of orbital assets” and that it is easier to prevent the weaponization of space than to get rid of new weapon stockpiles afterwards.
Unfortunately, given the incredible amounts of money spent on space weapon technology and the “opportunities” the contracts for such technology provides for weapon profiteers, it will in fact be very difficult to prevent its development.
Minister Lavrov announced that the Russian and Chinese CD delegations will soon introduce a document summing up and responding to the comments they received on their drafty treaty on preventing the placement of weapons in outer space. For a list of comments on the treaty delivered in plenary meetings of the CD, please see Reaching Critical Will’s fact sheet on the draft treaty.
Notes from the gallery
For the first time in a long time, the CD chamber was packed with press. Before delivering his official statement, Minister Lavrov had to shoo away photographers standing in the middle of the room, saying, “We’re here for disarmament, not publicity.” Last year, Minister Lavrov’s CD address received much less media attention. We hope the increased publicity will result in increased interest in, and scrutiny of, the CD by media and the public.
To subscribe to Reaching Critical Will's CD Report, please email [email protected] with the subject line "subscribe cdreport". For all CD statements, papers, and other documents since 2000, please seehttp://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/cd/cdindex.html
5) Deadline for accreditation to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee
Please note that the deadline to apply for accreditation with the United Nations to attend the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee in May is Tuesday, 31 March 2009. Requests for accreditation that are received by fax or email will be considered provisional until the signed letters are received by mail. You must send hardcopies to the above address.
Instructions for accreditation and registration
Additional information for NGOs
6) Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence 2009
From the International Action Network on Small Arms
The Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence is scheduled for 15-21 June 2009. The Week of Action highlights the international campaign to stop the proliferation and misuse of small arms. Each year activists around the world use the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence to raise awareness, campaign for better gun laws and push for stronger regulation of the global arms trade.
In 2008 IANSA members in more than 85 countries highlighted the human cost of small arms proliferation and misuse; they also demanded that governments to enact policies that put their citizens' security first. Civil society organisations taking part in the Week of Action organised public events, conducted media work, emphasised the importance of an Arms Trade Treaty and generally engaged more people in the global movement against gun violence.
Key dates for possible Week of Action advocacy
• International Day of the African Child: 16 June
• Father’s Day (in many countries): 19 June
• World Refugee Day: 20 June
The Week of Action is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about these upcoming events:
• Global Gun Destruction Day: 9 July
• UN Open Ended Working Group on an Arms Trade Treaty: 13-17 July
As in previous years, the IANSA Secretariat will be able support your activities with information, contacts, suggestions, media outreach, translation etc. We will also have some limited funds to assist with small costs such as printing. Please email Bruce Millar for further information and to discuss your plans.
Bruce Millar
Programme Officer
IANSA - International Action Network on Small Arms
Development House
56-64 Leonard Street
London EC2A 4LT (UK)
Tel: +44 20 7065 0867
Fax: +44 20 7065 0871
[email protected]